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Beyond Earth: The Future of Humans in Space provides a foundation for space planners and anyone interested in humankind's next great adventure - the human migration to space. World-class scholars, scientists, engineers, managers, astronauts, artists, authors, and university professors capture the questions that plague our unique circumstance: Why does space matter to us? What can we use it for? How can we get there efficiently? What will ordinary life be like in space? What will our homes be like on the Moon? On Mars? In orbit? Will we play? Will we love? Will we survive?
The primary reasons for humans to go permanently to space are for the betterment of humankind and the avoidance of threats to humans on earth. Evidence to support those conclusions is provided herein. Research findings over the past decade show huge benefits to humans and to earth of exploiting the resources and capabilities uniquely found in space. Some predictions and projections will produce paradigm shifts unimagined in 1957 when Russians and Americans began departing earth. Space Sciences, technology and experience makes the next major breakout from Earth to space not only feasible but commercially profitable.

This book is science, not science fiction. In the year 2006 we know that humans will live and work in space. Humans have experienced space for forty-five years. The majority of the forty professionals who authored this book have spent their working lives in the global space community. They have produced a systems approach to the “Why” and the “How” the next great space adventure will occur and the challenges to overcome. Managers are already planning for translation of this English version into twelve major languages of the world.

BEYOND EARTH: THE FUTURE OF HUMANS IN SPACE, (CGPublishing, Inc., 2006), Bob Krone, Ph.D., Editor
       This is a critical time for the space program and for all of us.   Even the significant steps that we have taken since the dawn of the space age in 1957, including getting into orbit, going to the Moon, and building space stations, will in retrospect seem to be tiny steps compared to what lies ahead.     Migrating into space will task us beyond anything we have previously accomplished. We are destined to face challenges both fantastically breathtaking and supremely dangerous. BEYOND EARTH provides a foundation for space planners and anyone interested in humankind's next great adventure - the human settlement of the Solar System. World-class scholars, scientists, engineers, managers, astronauts, artists, authors, and university professors capture the questions that plague our unique circumstance: Why does space matter to us? What can we use it for? How can we get there efficiently? What will ordinary life be like in space? What will our homes be like on the Moon? On Mars? In orbit? Will we play? Will we love?
     BEYOND EARTH does not stop with questions. It goes beyond the dramatic, the superficial, and the overly technical to the prescriptive, literally laying the brick and mortar for our future space faring civilization. Contributing authors come from   both hard and soft sciences; include education and the arts; and   ask kids, who will be the future space dwellers,   for their visions. They document needed research.
     There are three underlying assumptions driving this book: First, that the human urge for flight, exploration and survival, plus its curiosity about the universe,   are deeply embedded in our genes and in our minds; Second, that even if these urges were ignored, the continual improvement of the quality of life for the human race on earth, and perhaps even its ultimate survival, hinge on the successes of human exploration and habitation of space; and, Third that our generation can use the opportunity presented by outwards expansion to design a   rewarding and exciting future of collaboration to capitalize on the lessons learned from human history on Earth